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(No'M odeL) C. FOWLER.

MACHINE FOR LOWERIN-G UOPFIN S No. 599,669. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

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Witnesses:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHALKLEY T. FOWLER, OF OHILLIOOTHE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY S. ADAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR LOWERING COFFINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 599,669, dated February 22, 1898. Application filed April 1, 1897. Serial No 630,332. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHALKLEY T. FOWLER, of Ohillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, 7 clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a front View. Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of sliding posts.

A, B, O, and D represent the side and end rails of frame, made rectangular in form and held in a relative square position by the side and end rails-A, B, O, and D, being shouldered together at ends and secured by bolts and thumb-nuts N, passing up through the four corners of frame, which admits of quick and easy adjustment. Side bars A and B are strengthened by side stays U, extending full length of bars, secured a short distance from bars by turn-pieces G, cut square at ends, fitting between bar and stay and secured in position by iron bolts passing through therespective bars and stays.

J J are spacing-blocks resting between bars A and B and supporting the former, said spacing-blocks being held in place by corner tie-bolts N, which also pass through and secure the feet, the bars A and B, C and D, and the handles.

End bars 0 and D have cleats V, extending full .length on outside of bars, secured by bolts with gains at center by which head T is secured in position.

F F are sliding posts, two on each side of frame, fitted to bars A and B, so as to combine their strength, also adjust back and forth and extend at top as a support to bars 0. Bars 0 are square, extending full length, one on each side at top of frame, and connecting with frame at each end, by round bearings, formed on ends of bars. These bars are made circular at each end immediately inside of frame.

Friction-spools H are fitted on bars 0 and adjust back and forth. The outer surface is circular in form, resting in crotch at top of sliding post F, creating adjustable round bearings and supports for bars 0 at any point where sliding post F and pulleys P may require- P P are pulleys upon which cables are wound, and, being fitted to bars 0, are adjustable back and forth, as required, and may also be moved out upon the circular portion of bars 0 when cables are to be wound upon them, as well as to regulate the length of slack in cables to allow coffin to maintain a level position when the ground upon which frame is placed is inclined in any direction.

R R are cables attachable to and detachable from pulleys P, being Wound or unwound, as the case may be, the two pulleys on either side revolving in opposite direction to those of the other side. These cables are immediately the means by which the weight is suspended or lowered and may be readily detached from pulleys at either end and wound up on the opposite side.

E E are iron rods upon which 'coffin may rest, being adjustable through holes in sliding post F.

L L are handles, one at each corner, secured in position by corner-bolts N and dowel-pins I.

' K K are feet, also secured in position by bolts N, the heads of which being underneath.

T. is head, being adjustable and secured in position by gains in cleats V.

W W are large sprocket-wheels secured at one end of frame on bars 0 by set-screws.

Z are shafts in head, upon each of which are cast one gear-wheel Y and one sprocketwheel X. One of shafts Z projects outward, upon which vcrank Q is adjusted upon its square shank. Gear-wheels Y mesh together.

S is sprocket-chain, of which there are two pieces, each piece connecting sprocket-wheels W and X, one of each on each side of head T, the propelling power being communicated by crank Q.

I claim 1. In a hoisting and lowering burial apparatus; suitable operating mechanism, oppositely-rotating shafts rotated thereby; a frame supporting said shafts, the body of said shafts being angular in cross-section and their end portions reduced and circular in cross-section; pulleys mounted upon the angular portion of said shafts and movable to the circular por tion thereof, cables oppositely wound upon said pulleys; said pulleys adjustable to regulate the length of the cables when moved to the circular portion of the shaft; non-friction spools mounted upon angular portions of said shafts, said spools creating adjustable bearings for said shafts; and movable or sliding posts mounted upon said frame having bearings for said non-friction spools.

2. In a burial apparatus, a framework consisting of upper and lower rectangular frames; spacing-blocks between said frames; suitable feet at the lower corners of the lower frame; suitable handles at the upper corners of the upper frame; and the bolts for each corner of the frame passing through the feet, the lower frame, the spacing-blocks, the upper frame, and the handles, whereby said parts are united and fastened together, in combination with suitable lowering mechanism as described.

3. In a burial-apparatus-propelling mechanism, a supporting-head T, a pair of meshing gear wheels journaled on shafts Z in said head, a handle attached to one of said shafts, a sprocket-wheel formed in one piece with each of said gear-wheels, a pair of suitably-supported shafts O for lowering straps, sprocket-wheels \V attached to said shafts and sprocket-chains S connecting said sprocketwheels with sprocket-wheels X, whereby the operation of said gear and sprocket-wheels will rotate the shafts O in opposite directions.

CHALKLEY T. FOlVLER.

\Vitnesses:

BENJA. F. DUNCAN, GEO. B. BITZER. 

